Atlanta Casino News
Atlantic City Casino News is the leading source of the latest casino and gambling news, poker news, betting, and online gaming news, and much more. We offer up to the minute news stories to our readers. HENRY COUNTY, Ga. The president of Atlanta Motor Speedway is showing lawmakers how Georgia can do casino resorts differently, catering to the whole family. Ed Clark, president of Atlanta Motor.
The state of Georgia is known for having some of the strictest gambling laws in the United States. Many want this to change, though. There’s been a recent push to expand the state’s gambling industry. There’s even a push to open a casino at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
Latest Casino and Gambling News, Gaming Law & Legislation, Tribal Gaming, Casino proposals, Casino News, Mergers, Acquisitions & Partnerships, Georgia In the southern state of Georgia and the boss for the Atlanta Motor Speedway has reportedly announced that he would like to bring a resort casino complete with a 700-room hotel to the giant. Atlanta Hawks make pro sports history in deal with Black-owned banks. By WSBTV.com News Staff. Cities begin putting mask mandates back into place as COVID-19 cases surge. HAMPTON – The Atlanta Motor Speedway will host a public hearing on Thursday held by the Georgia House of Representatives’ Special Committee on Economic Growth. The meeting will concern a possible.
This is now looking more likely. Some state officials here believe that this new casino would help boost tourism and revenue in the state. Today, we’re going to give an update on this exciting new casino plan.
Let’s get into it!
There’s Only One Month Left of the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series
NASCAR remains one of the most popular sports around the US. Back in March, news broke that this stock car racing league was officially shutting down. It was disappointing news, as the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series was already well underway.
Finally, in May, NASCAR resumed its operations. It was exciting news for the millions of fans around the world. There are some major changes set in place during this season, yet it’s managed to go on without any major issues.
There’s now only one month left in the Cup Series. We’re currently in round 12 of the Cup Championship. Things are extremely competitive right now heading into the Bank of America Roval 400. Many are now flocking to different betting sites to place their bets on the season’s winner.
Bovada, one of the best online sportsbooks in the US, is offering odds on which driver manages to win the 2020 Drivers Championship. At the moment, Kevin Harvick is listed as the betting favorite to win at +175. Denny Hamlin is listed next at +225. Want to go with an underdog? Consider a bet on Joey Logano with odds of +1200.
It’s been a fascinating Cup Series this year. The final race of the season is set to take place on November 8th. Now, many are interested in whether or not the Atlanta Motor Speedway will receive a major upgrade next year.
Here’s what we know about this situation.
More Details On the Casino at Atlanta Motor Speedway Are Coming Out
Prior to 2020, the US casino industry was thriving. Gambling destinations around the country saw massive revenue earnings and new casinos were quickly being constructed. This year, however, the casino industry has taken a massive hit.
At the start of 2020, plans were unveiled to open a new casino at Atlanta Motor Speedway. It was a major surprise for many to hear. Georgia is known for having extremely harsh laws towards the gambling industry and lawmakers have pushed against opening a real casino.
Many now feel this casino would help to benefit the state. The current plan is to construct it directly next to the race track. Speedway Motorsports president and CEO Marcus Smith claims he’s working to obtain a license for this new gambling venue.
“That is a big hope for us,” Smith said. “We’re working in the state of Georgia on the gaming license opportunity, and it’s of course taking longer than we would like and a lot of other people that have been working on it, but we’re hopeful for that. We also think that Atlanta Motor Speedway is a fantastic racetrack, and the drivers and fans have always given it high reviews. So we are optimistic about NASCAR at Atlanta and the Atlanta market.”
This is far from a done deal, though. This casino will need to be approved from the various state government bodies. This will be much easier said than done, yet it seems that many state leaders are getting on-board with the idea.
Will Georgia ever legalize sports betting?
Georgia’s Sports Betting Plans, Explained
Back in May of 2018, the Supreme Court decided to strike down PASPA. It was a monumental decision for the country’s gambling industry. With this law gone, each state could set its own regulations towards sports gambling.
Today, 24 states have officially legalized sports gambling. Most of these states are earning a huge amount of revenue from this industry. Over in Georgia, gambling proponents have been working hard to finally get the state’s sports betting industry up and running.
There have been a few sports betting bills presented here over the past few years. This past September, the Senate Special Judiciary Committee voted to push the state’s new sports gambling bill to the State Senate. It’s exciting news for sports fans.
It’s unclear whether or not this will make its way through the legislative process, though. Georgia’s House and Senate will need to approve the bill. Then, it will need to gain approval from Governor Kemp.
There’s a lot going on here. Soon, we could see a new casino at Atlanta Motor Speedway. There’s also a chance that legal, regulated sports betting could come to Georgia sometime soon. We’ll continue offering updates on this situation over the next few weeks.
Do you think a casino should open at the Atlanta Speedway? Let us know in the comments section below!
- Bingo (1976), Lottery (1992), Video Lottery (2013)
- $918 million
- $1 Billion
- 18 for lottery and bingo, no minimum age for video lottery
- Georgia only bans smoking in restaurants that permit minors. Some local jurisdictions ban smoking in video lottery establishments.
- Lottery tickets, including instant games, are sold over the Internet.
Georgia was one of the last states to legalize any form of gambling outside of charities. It happened in 1992 when voters approved a constitutional amendment that created the Georgia Lottery. The only other form of Georgia gambling allowed before that was nonprofits offering games like bingo and raffles.
The Georgia Lottery turned into one of the largest gambling businesses in the country almost overnight. It later expanded into online sales of tickets, including instant games. Gray area slot machines were turned into a video lottery in 2013.
Despite the fact that there are no Georgia casinos, there are other options players can use. Georgia casino gamblers can go to either of the two Cherokee casinos in the North Carolina Appalachian Mountains or drive to Mississippi or Florida. Another option is to take a cruise ship from an Atlantic Ocean port, where casino games can be played once the ship hits international waters. Use our Georgia casinos map of services to find a business that offers cruise ship casinos and gambling rentals.
Paying Gambling Taxes in Georgia
Did you know that you have to report your gambling winnings? OnlineUnitedStatesCasinos has gathered everything you need to know about paying gambling taxes straight from a Certified Public Accountant. For more information please visit our exclusive Gambling Taxes article.
Georgia Casinos Map of Businesses
Atlanta Ga Casino News
- None
- 0
- 0
- 0
Best Real Money Online Casinos for Players in Georgia
- Huge Welcome Bonus Package
- Visa and MasterCard Payment Options Available for US Players
- Over 150 Real Money Online Slot Games
Compatible with:- windows
- apple
- android
- mobile
- Safe and Reputable Casino, Mobile Friendly
- Easy Credit Card Deposits for US Players
- Impressive Welcome Bonuses up to 260% match
Compatible with:- windows
- apple
- android
- mobile
- Quick USA Payouts, Credit Cards Accepted
- Great Selection of Slots & Table Games
- Legit & Reputable Mobile Friendly Casino
Compatible with:- windows
- apple
- android
- mobile
- Uses the Microgaming Software
- Fast Cashouts in Just 1-7 Days
- Online, Mobile, Instant & Live Play
Deposit Options include:- visa
- mastercard
- paypal
- neteller
100% up to €1,000- Big Jackpots and Massive Deposit Bonuses
- Over 400 Online Casino Games
- Play Live Dealer Games
Deposit Options include:- visa
- mastercard
- paypal
- bitcoin
100% up to €1,600- Large Australian Bitcoin-Friendly Casino
- Mobile, Flash, and Download Play Options
- Fastest Payouts
Deposit Options include:- visa
- mastercard
- paypal
- neteller
- Safe and Trustworthy Australian Casino
- Multiple Daily Deposit Deals
- 100s of Pokies, Slots, and Table Games
Compatible with:- windows
- apple
- android
- mobile
Types of Online Georgia Gambling Allowed
The only form of legal Georgia online gambling is the lottery. The Mygalottery.com website sells tickets to lotto drawings that include Mega Millions, Powerball and Fantasy 5. It also sells tickets for real money keno drawings that are held every three and a half minutes. There are also instant games that mimic slot machines. These tickets start at $.50 and run up to $2.
Daily fantasy sports sites claim exemption under Georgia’s skill gaming law. The Georgia Lottery launched an inquiry into this assertion by sending letters to major sites that operate in the state. State Attorney General Sam Olens is also investigating daily fantasy sports. Meanwhile, sites like DraftKings, Fanduel, Yahoo! And CBS Sports continue to operate in the state.
Types of Live Georgia Gambling
There are two forms of legalized live Georgia gambling . The oldest is charitable bingo. This is low limit action with small prize pools.
The other form of live gambling in Georgia is video lottery. This involves slot machines that require some level of skill. The technical term for these games is redemption machines. The most common games involve the machine showing three reels and the player using skill to determine which reel to move to place in the final spot for the best payout.
Some operators use machines that do not conform to skill being an element. There is still debate about how the Georgia Lottery will act in regards to enforcement of devices that do not fall completely within the rules.
There are no Georgia casinos within state borders, but players can certainly find alternatives. There are several different ways Georgia casino gamblers can play the games:
- Travel to nearby states, like Florida and Mississippi, and play at their casinos.
- Go on a cruise ship casino and play on international waters.
- Rent or hire Georgia casino services. The games are not played with real money, but the thrill is still there.
Georgia Gambling Laws
Georgia gambling laws make most betting and gambling illegal. Residents may not possess slots or video poker machines. Home poker games are legal but only if a rake is not taken from the pot or an entry fee demanded. Poker tournaments that offer prizes may not have a buy-in.
Bingo is only permitted for charities that register with the state. All revenue must be declared. Bingo may not have prize pools higher than $1,500 in a day or $3,000 in a week.
The Georgia Lottery was created to fund education. Taxes generated by the lottery must be used for the HOPE Scholarship. This funds college tuition for qualifying students. It also pays for pre-k classes.
Atlanta Casino News
- The devices must be connected to the lottery’s headquarters.
- The machines are charged an annual amusement licensing fee.
- The games must be slots that require some level of skill that affects the outcome.
- Players may not win cash.
- The only prizes may be store merchandise, gift cards or lottery tickets.
- Alcohol and tobacco may not be purchased with video lottery winnings.
- Violation of video lottery laws is a gross misdemeanor in most cases.
The Georgia Lottery began taxing the machines at 5 percent of net revenue in 2013. That number goes up one percent annually until it reaches 10 percent.
The Georgia Lottery is given the authority to regulate all forms of commercial gambling in the state. It may create new gambling segments without the authority of the state legislature. The Georgia Lottery has the power to open video lottery casinos, however, it has chosen not to do so. Management at the state lottery has refused to move into casino gaming without specific direction from lawmakers.
Where to Gamble in Georgia
There are no Georgia casinos that operate in-state. There is currently only one cruise ship that take Georgia casino gamblers into the ocean. The only ship remaining is the Emerald Princess II out of Brunswick. The Tradewinds Casino that docked in Savannah has been permanently closed. This ship offers all kinds of casino games including, slots, video poker, and table games. Players in the Atlanta area travel to Harrah’s Cherokee or Harrah’s Murphy in North Carolina or go to Mississippi for casino action.
This is the best alternative players have currently, unless legislation is passed soon where Georgia casinos can become a reality.
Video lottery is available throughout the state in convenience stores and bars. These are slot machines that require the player to perform one skillful act to complete the spin.
History of Georgia Gambling
Georgia has long been a conservative state that frowned upon gambling. It took until 1976 for charities to be able to offer bingo and raffles. The rules to this day only permit prize pools of up to $1,500 per night and $3,000 per week. The proceeds must go to a registered charity.
State Lottery Created
Georgia residents approved a constitutional amendment to create a state lottery in November 1992. The first scratch-off ticket was sold on June 29, 1993. There were 52 million lottery tickets sold the first week. The sales goal of $463 million was hit in the first five months. It was the most successful lottery launch in history at the time.
The Georgia Lottery started a weekly lotto game the same year. It also joined multi-state drawings like Powerball and Mega Millions. Keno drawings were also added. This game is typically found in bars. New numbers are drawn every three and a half minutes.
Video poker made an unwanted entry into Georgia in the late 1990’s. The games snuck through the back door of a statute meant to permit redemption games at arcades. Video poker parlors opened throughout the state and peaked around 2000 after South Carolina banned video poker. Most machines were Pot O’ Gold machines that featured Shamrock 7’s, an incredibly popular video poker game in the South.
Video poker establishments were not permitted to pay cash. Gift cards and merchandise were the only items that were legal to pay winners. Many video poker halls got around this by opening identical establishments next door to each other in the same shopping center. A winner would receive a gift card from one business and walk next door and sell it for cash. Some video poker halls simply paid cash.
The games were not regulated for fairness. The only tax revenue generated came from machine licensing fees.
Governor Roy Barnes called a special session of the Georgia Assembly in 2001 to address the state flag. A video poker ban also came out of this legislative meeting. Video poker companies managed to defeat the law in the lower court but the Georgia Supreme Court threw out the earlier ruling. Video poker died in Georgia in June 2002.
The video poker ban outlawed machines that used cards or anything similar, as well as keno games. Slot machines that required any degree of skill were not banned. This was the next version of video gambling in Georgia.
Payout Rules
The same payout rules applied to these slots as video poker. Players could still not receive cash for winnings, nor could they buy alcohol or tobacco products. The state challenged the legality of the games and the Georgia Supreme Court ruled that slots that require skill were legal under state law. Lawmakers were left with two options. They could outlaw games that involved some chance at Chuck E Cheese and Dave N Busters or they could just accept that the slot machines were there to stay.
In 2013, the state legislature decided to accept the existence of slot machines in gas stations and bars by legalizing video lottery. A tax of five percent was levied on the games starting July 1, 2013. The tax rate goes up one percent each year until it caps at 10 percent. All legal games must be connected to a regulatory system monitored by the Georgia Lottery. There have been enforcement issues involved with video lottery. State and local police, as well as lottery officials, continue to battle underground video gambling.
The Georgia Lottery launched online games in 2014. Players can purchase tickets for lotto and keno drawings over the Internet. There are also instant games that closely resemble slot machines.
Casino companies have been scouting Atlanta as the next potential gaming market. Boyd Gaming, Las Vegas Sands and MGM Resorts are among the interested companies. The 2016 Georgia Assembly is expected to take up the discussion about Georgia casinos and gambling expansion.
Georgia Casinos & Gambling FAQ
Are there casinos in Georgia?
No. The only Georgia casinos are cruise ships, with the only one remaining docking in Brunswick. They must go into international waters before they can legally offer casino games.
Harrah’s Murphy is the closest casino to Atlanta. Harrah’s Cherokee is only slightly farther away.
The Georgia Lottery regulates slot machines that require some skill.
Many gas stations and bars offer video lottery games.
Nyc Casino News
Can you buy Georgia Lottery tickets over the Internet?
Yes. This includes lotto drawings, keno and instant games.
No.
Home games and bar tournaments with no buy-ins are legal. Commercial card rooms are unlawful in Georgia.
Atlantic Casino News
The minimum Georgia gambling age is 18 for lottery and bingo. There is no minimum gambling age for video lottery.